The No. 1 seed Drake Bulldogs (27-3, 17-3 MVC) are set to face the No. 8 seed Southern Illinois Salukis (14-18, 8-12) in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Arch Madness tournament. After winning the league by two games, Drake aims to secure a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. The Bulldogs, led by first-year coach Ben McCollum, are favored by 9.5 points in the upcoming game. They have had a successful season, with junior guard Bennett Stirtz averaging 18.9 points per game. Southern Illinois, on the other hand, is looking to continue their Cinderella run after narrowly defeating Indiana State in the first round. Senior guard Ali Dibba, averaging 16.8 points per game, will be a key player for the Salukis. The game is set for 1 p.m. ET on Friday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Drake has been a standout team this season, winning a conference title and soaring to the No. 1 seed in the MVC Tournament. With a strong performance in both non-conference and conference play, the Bulldogs are a force to be reckoned with. In contrast, Southern Illinois has had a more challenging season but showed resilience by securing a crucial win in the first round. The model predicts an exciting matchup, with both teams having the potential to cover the spread. Basketball fans can catch the action live on FuboTV. Visit SportsLine now to get expert predictions and insights on this highly anticipated game.
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